Karachi, Pakistan
Smoking policy at Karachi, Jinnah International Airport (KHI)
Warnings & Caveats
Connecting passengers who exit to smoke landside must re-clear security, which can take significant time. The CIP Lounge and PIA Business Plus Lounge are explicitly non-smoking. Pakistan has national restrictions on e-cigarettes; vaping rules at the airport are unconfirmed.
Karachi's Jinnah International Airport has a fairly restrictive smoking setup for most travelers. Smoking is only permitted in designated outdoor areas outside the terminals landside, and the one confirmed airside option is inside a paid lounge. If you're a smoker on a connecting flight, be aware that re-entering security after going outside is required, which adds real time to your transit.
Before Security
Landside smoking is possible at designated outdoor areas outside the terminal buildings. No indoor smoking zones exist in the public areas of the terminal. The airport's smoking rules are reportedly not always strictly enforced, and some travelers note that locals occasionally smoke in unofficial spots, but relying on that is not advisable.
Outdoor designated smoking zones are located outside the terminal entrances, accessible before you clear security.
If you are connecting and need a smoke, you must exit the secure zone, go outside, smoke, and then re-queue through security. Factor in at least 30-45 minutes for this, as security lines can be slow.
After Security
There are no standalone public smoking rooms or designated smoking zones airside in the general terminal area. The only confirmed airside smoking option is inside the Marhaba Lounge, which has a dedicated smoking room.
The Marhaba Lounge is located airside in the International Terminal, on the 1st floor after immigration, near Zainab Duty Free. It operates 24 hours.
Walk-in access is available to any passenger with a boarding pass. Pricing is not published in the available sources, but the lounge is accessible via lounge membership programs and pay-at-door arrangements.
The CIP Lounge (Civil Aviation Authority Lounge) and the PIA Business Plus Lounge are both explicitly listed as non-smoking establishments, so do not count on those for a cigarette.
Lounges with Smoking Rooms
The Marhaba Lounge is the only lounge at KHI confirmed to have a designated smoking area. The CIP Lounge charges PKR 2,000-2,500 per person at the door but is smoke-free. The PIA Business Plus Lounge is complimentary for PIA Business Class passengers but is also non-smoking.
Vaping Rules
No specific information about vaping rules at KHI is available from the sources reviewed. Pakistan has restrictions on e-cigarettes nationally, so treat vaping the same as smoking and only use designated areas.
Transit and Layovers
If you are transiting through Karachi and need to smoke, you cannot do so airside unless you access the Marhaba Lounge. Exiting to smoke landside means clearing security again, which is time-consuming and may not be possible on a short connection.
Bottom Line
Smoke before you clear security if you can; airside, your only realistic option is paying to enter the Marhaba Lounge, which has a dedicated smoking room past immigration.
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